Body discovered in front of South End home

Boston police are investigating the death of a man whose body was found outside of a South End residence, authorities said.

The body was reported around 6:38 a.m. at 148 West Canton St., said Boston police officer Katherine Shea. She said detectives had cleared the scene just after 10 a.m.

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Michael Magoon, 30, said the man was still at the scene when he was walking to his job at a nearby Starbucks at around 8:30 in the morning. Magoon saw what appeared to be a man’s feet sticking up out of a stairwell in front of the brownstone.

Police said the man was found lying face down on the stairs and pronounced dead at the scene. No injuries or trauma were immediately visible on the victim, Boston police said in a statement. The man was wearing a brown sweater, blue jeans, brown coat, brown shoes and a red hat. He has not yet been identified by police.

Residents described the street, lined with narrow brick brownstones and wrought-iron fences, as peaceful. According to the City of Boston’s online real estate assessments database, many of the brownstones surrounding the scene are worth over $1 million.

Early on Sunday afternoon, a cleaning crew was working at the scene in front of 148. The steps of the home and a small area of uneven brick sidewalk were cordoned off with yellow caution tape. Members of the cleaning crew declined to comment.

The incident is still under investigation. Boston police urge anyone with information to call their homicide unit at 617-343-4470.